Kaelin grit her teeth as she glared at the Brood mother that dashed at her. Taking out her bow, she fired two streams of arrows aimed at the lesser bats which provoked the Brood mother as it bared it's fangs at her.
*Shriek*
Letting out an ear piercing roar, the Brood mother went for a dive showing it's claws at her.
*Bam*
Blocking with her bow, she was sent flying however the Brood mother was relentless with its advances. 'Damn it! How is this just the first level?!' She cursed inwardly as she switched to her pike. A thrust managed to tear through the flaps of the bat that charged mindlessly however its lesser minions already covering her flanks went in for a lethal attack.
[{You have received the blood loss vampirism debuff}]
Before she could comprehend what had happened, the Brood mother sunk its teeth down her throat instantly draining her health ending he dive. 'Damn it Jarren! You didn't have to be so tough!' Her words only for the abyss to hear. Rather than go for another dive, she chose to end her trips.
'I'm sure that my mother and father are worrying about me.' A playful smile flashed on her lips as she imagined the bewildered looks on her parent's faces. Waking up, she realized that the sky had began it's descent, next to her was Lyssara who was still engrossed with her dive.
"I was wondering when you would wake up. I think it's time that we go for a little stroll. A relaxing break from the thrill, no?" Jarren's words taking her by surprise as she realized he was behind her. In his arms a coat she took before the two made their way out of the mansion and down a path into her forest.
The sun's golden rays illuminating her face, a light breeze swaying her hair as the two walked with a silence of understanding between the two. "So how is it?" Jarren tore through the silence, his hands pocketed. "It's staggeringly hard for it to be the first level, I can only dread what Lyssara is going through." A chuckle escaped her lips as the sound of dry leaves crackled beneath her feet.
"It was meant to be beginner hostile thanks to Callista, a joke she mused at the time." His words making her mind fall into thought. "Lyssara said about Seryn, how she suffers in the code of a game. Why is that you have to make it so difficult for her if she's of value to you?" As much as she tried, she failed to come up with a plausible answer.
"That my dear will require you to face Clomere, only for it to be further amplified by Callista. However now she's no more than what she initially was. No longer does my toy wince or falter, only execution." Kaelin noted his click as if disappointed which came off as odd to her. "You could have stopped it, no?" She wondered as her face portrayed her perplexion.
"Well yes but she would break eventually, it was just a matter of time and for her it would seem that it was far sooner than I had anticipated." The wind picked up now roughly swaying her hair and carrying the bed of leaves off the ground and into the air. A chill ran down Kaelin's spine as she realized something staring at the two at the corner of her eye.
The beast had a physique similar to a monkey however it's body was bigger, its limbs skinnier with pitch black skin, bone protrusions and an uncanny set of canine teeth. Its eyes locking onto the pair however Jarren seemed unbothered with the abomination as he strolled ever so casually.
"Jarren?" She pointed out but the man beside her remained indifferent before turning his head to face the beast. A chuckle escaped his lips. "If I weren't here you would already be dead. It's been following us for the past ten minutes." The revelation like a bucket of cold water to Kaelin as the abomination finally made it's move.
It moved akin to a snake, its tail trailing with elegance behind it as it slowly approached the two. Kaelin crashed onto Jarren's figure, her hand locking with his as a look of horrors remained etched on her face. "If you are already this disturbed them I fear what will become of you when I'm not around."
His joke hanging in the air before shifting his attention at the intruder. He didn't bother raising his hand, a thought was all it took making space collapse swallowing the abomination whole as it was sent to the abyss where it was devoured with far more potent monsters. For Kaelin however it felt like a dream, his ease of disposal something she could have never fathomed.
Jarren however looked at the golden sky as he gave his casual remark. "I'm sure that your parents must be worried about you. I'll take you home." Kaelin froze hearing this as she recovered from the scene she had just witnessed. "I'm not trying to scare them to death Jarren. You can't come with me, I'll just make my way back."
Jarren however wasn't pleased with taking no for an answer. "Really? I'm sure that they would have loved it to meet a dashing gentleman like me." A dry laugh escaped Kaelin's lips seeing Jarren's attempt at humoring her. "Yeah, a monster than cam warp space to his liking. It would be best for me to go alone."
Once more Jarren shifted his look, his obsidian eyes for eyes now replaced with the initial brown hue that she had met him with before, his hair still jet black. "How about now?" Gesturing at his new look, Kaelin let out an exasperated sigh as she covered her face with her hand. "You really are stubborn, huh?"
...
A knock on the door was enough to make Hesta Vorn and Nysta Bloom rise to their feet, making their way to the door. Now in the creeping darkness their daughter stood, an innocent smile plastered on her face. "Where have you been?!" Nysta, her mother was the first to ask as she dove in for a long and tight hug. "I was just catching up with a friend of mine is all."
Kaelin trying to break free gestured at the man behind her. Jarren's calm demeanor, his cool eyes and black hair instantly catching the attention of the pair. Who is she dear?!" Nysta posed, showing her suspicion of Jarren. She hadn't seen such a man with Kaelin before which made her nervous.
"He was one of the other participants in the Ark Facility. It was lucky that we met each other back at the restaurant." Kaelin's chuckle further tightening the air between Jarren and her parents. "The name's Benedict Tware." His tone low as he is here his hand at Hesta who eyed him with wariness. "Hesta Vorn, I've never seen you when the recruits were admitted at the facility Benedict."
Jarren wore a relaxing smile, his tone casual. "Right, I joined a few days after. It was lucky that my father could secure a spot." He mused followed with a chuckle. Hesta's gaze only narrowed hearing this. "Your father? Who is he?" He was aware of how strict the program was and for Benedict to join in would mean that his background wasn't so light.
"He's a man who prefers to drown in secrecy however I'm sure that the two of you could meet later on. He's away at the time but feel free to come over at the edge of town." His words further increased Hesta's guard off Jarren. "Dad, I'm sure that you can ask all you wish about Benedict later, it was after all thanks to him that I made it here safely."
Her eyes widened with horror aware of what she had just said. "Wait! I wasn't in actual danger, just some- Her mother however cut her off as she began to check her body. "Are you okay? We should have you checked!" Her frantic words followed with her guidance of Kaelin into the house leaving the two gentlemen.
The air went cold, a game of wits occurring between the two. "Benedict Tware? I've never heard of you." Hesta began as he leaned onto the food frame. "My mother didn't want me to be in the spotlight. Said it would side track me." Jarren tried to ease the man however he proved difficult. "As much as I appreciate your efforts of ensuring Kaelin made it here safe, it would be best that the two of you not meet."
Jarren tilted his head not with surprise but rather intrigue. "As much as it will ail the miss, I'm sure that she'll come to understand and I appreciate your efforts to keep your family safe." His words hinting at something darker, something he didn't have enough time as he switched the topic. "Well I best be off for now, it was a pleasure to meet you Hesta Vorn."
His hand left alone eliciting a dry chuckle from Jarren as he made his way back to his carriage before his presence was off their grounds. Hesta remained observant of the man, each laugh, each remark and his shakes. 'It's clear that the man knows what he's doing.' There was no trace of fear or hesitance he read off Jarren during the conversation which both unnerved and pleased him.
Closing the door, he made his way to the main lounging room where Kaelin tried to break free from her mother's efforts to cure an ailment she lacked. "I told you mom, I'm fine!" The girl protested however her mother didn't seemed fazed with her words. "Eh! You never know what might have happened! You might have been poisoned or something!"
Hesta took a seat opposite to the pair, his tone grim. "Kaelin!" His words drawing attention from the two. "It would be best that you don't see Benedict. There's something about him that promises more than just trouble." Kaelin as if expectant of this began her protests once more. "Dad! I can prove that Benedict is a great person."
She paused as she showcased her bow. "Besides he's the one who will be teaching about the lightning element to help me with my bow." Her parents however seemed lost with her bow. "He- He gave this to you?!" Nysta shouted with disbelief eyeing at the work of art. Be it the craftsmanship or the technicality of the weapon, everything about it seemed perfect.
"I didn't know that you used the bow?" Hesta commented, his head resting on his hand as he took a closer look at the longbow. 'Something like would fetch an absurd price be it in the black market or the regular market.' His eyes widened in horror realizing something.
"Did he give this to you for free?!" Kaelin's nod confirmed his suspicions. 'Is he planning on using this to get closer with Kaelin. After all the lightning element sounds convenient for the two to be interacting.' Still, there was a sensation in his gut that made him wary of Jarren.
"Oh my god! Can you take in just how majestic this longbow is?" Nysta began her rant as she assessed Kaelin's gift in her hands, entranced with the bow. Her attempt to pick it up met with failure. "It's designed such that only I can pick it up." Unlike her mother she easily lifted it off the table and placed it on her lap.
A look of frustration seemed to flash on Nysta's face upon hearing this. "I wonder what other gifts he might give you." Her tone turning accusatory as she stole a glance at Hesta. "It's clear that a bow like that would be hard to come by and yet he gave it to you for free? I'm sure that I don't have to elaborate for you to see the absurdity here."
The two ladies glanced at the other before looking back at Hesta. "With such bizarre times, it would be great for our dear to learn a new skill, don't you think?" Hesta let out a sigh, his hands stroking his brows with helplessness. "Kaelin, it would be best for you to get rid of that weapon, preferably sell it back to the black market."
Kaelin however seemed unfazed hearing all of the frame from her parents. "Mom! Dad! You don't have to be so watchful of me! I'm all grown up already!"